Solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer Canadian Solar has established a joint venture (JV) with global clean energy developer ET Energy to offer engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for two solar projects, totalling 132MWp, in South Africa.
The solar power projects are being built for BioTherm Energy, an independent African power producer.
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Located in northwest South Africa, the two solar projects – Aggeneys (46MWp) and Konkoonsies II (86MWp) – have an area of 387ha of land.
The two facilities are Round IV projects of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
ET Energy president and CEO Dennis She said: “In partnership with Canadian Solar, BioTherm Energy, and other market leaders in South Africa, we have met all the requirements of the REIPPPP.
“With our South African subsidiary founded in 2016, and years of experience in project operation and EPC management, ET Energy will offer professional EPC and O&M services to utility-scale PV plants in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa.”
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By GlobalDataConstruction of the two solar power plants will begin next month, and the power plants will be connected to the grid by end of 2019 and early 2020.
For these projects, Canadian Solar will supply more than 400,000 1,500V high voltage modules, CS6U-P, which will be installed on single-axis solar tracking systems.
Canadian Solar chairman and CEO Dr Shawn Qu said: “These projects are the first large-scale applications of our products in Africa’s high voltage market.
“We hope to set more benchmarks for the renewable energy market in South Africa with high-quality products, advanced PV technology, and global expertise.”
A signatory to the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, South Africa aims to add 18GW of PV plants over 2021-50.
